Preview - St Mirren (a)

There is a fourteen point gap between the teams and it might be thought that the third v tenth fixture should result in a straightforward away win. St Mirren will have other ideas. They have won three of their last four (though one of those was against Dumbarton in the cup) and the must feel that they have a chance to reverse the August result. The teams drew 1-1 at Fir Park in November.

Preparations at Love St in August

Both teams will be hampered by suspensions. The home team will miss Gary Mason while Motherwell will have to change the long standing back four as Jim Paterson serves the first of a two game ban.

It seems likely that Marc Fitzpatrick will be handed his seventh start of the season to plug the vacancy at left back. With any luck his inclusion should not affect the fluency which has characterised our play of late. In addition to his six starts he has come on as a substitute eleven times this season.

The other ten will be the same regulars who performed so well in the second half at Tynecastle last week.

The normal transfer window speculation will be in full flow as this game unfolds but we have the additional distraction as the SFA view Mark McGhee as a contender for the vacant manager's post at Hampden.